New Health Measures To Protect Shrimp Production

MEXICO - In order to protect the country's shrimp production of an estimated 150 tonnes per year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) issued an agreement establishing mandatory health measures in the production of shrimp for reduction of risks associated with white spot disease (EMB).

The agreement, published in the Official Journal of the Federation, is intended to sort productive activity through the creation of better sanitary conditions for shrimp production in the states of Baja California Sur, Nayarit, Sinaloa and Sonora, where 95 per cent of shrimp in Mexico is grown.

The National Health Service, Food Safety and Food Quality (SENASICA), through this agreement establishes the sanitary measures to be applied by people who work in the early reproductive, spawning, incubation, pre-fattening and fattening stages of shrimp farming, to reduce the risk of contamination of EMB.

The EMB is a viral disease affecting shrimp. It was first detected in 1992 in Taiwan and spread to Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and India. Three days after the onset of clinical signs can cause up to 100 per cent mortality in infected ponds.

To avoid the disease in production systems in the northwest, SENASICA considered it necessary to establish a management plan for the health risk factors associated with EMB in shrimp farming, it is a disease considered high risk, mainly due to the lack of treatment for control.

Based on measures issued, the agreement seeks to preserve the health heritage of the national aquaculture industry, generate jobs and domestic economic development and foreign exchange earnings through exports.

The main provisions contained in the agreement are set at planting and drying ponds and techniques for disease detection, sampling, disinfection and other actions that producers must implement, in coordination with the Health Committee Aquaculture of each entity and SENASICA.

The research on the EMB has shown that there is greater incidence of illness in the winter, so, based on the recommendation of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the agreement states that you must apply the depopulation between December and February each year.

This action involves the removal of water from ponds so that once empty, the pond can be exposed to the sun for 90 days or more. This action significantly reduces the risk of occurrence and spread of the disease.

It has been demonstrated that during this period, the shrimp's body temperature varies significantly, reducing the environmental, physiological and metabolic activity, so that the measure represents an adverse economic impact on the process of fattening.

5m Editor

It is vital that fish farm operatives who are responsible for farmed fish are trained in their health and
welfare. This will help to ensure that fish are free from disease and suffering whilst at the same time
promote good productivity and comply with legislation.